. Popular history of the civil war . , also, in 1620, the first slaves were sold in this coun-try. Was it not a piece of justice that they should findfreedom where they had first been enslaved ? General Butler found his neighbors to be bitter secession-ists, who hated the Union, its army, and its flag. So hetook possession of the little towns of Hampton and New-port News, a few miles distant, but that did not keep therebels from being very bold and saucy. No doubt theythought there was nothing to be afraid of. So one night a force, under the direction of General E. , started
. Popular history of the civil war . , also, in 1620, the first slaves were sold in this coun-try. Was it not a piece of justice that they should findfreedom where they had first been enslaved ? General Butler found his neighbors to be bitter secession-ists, who hated the Union, its army, and its flag. So hetook possession of the little towns of Hampton and New-port News, a few miles distant, but that did not keep therebels from being very bold and saucy. No doubt theythought there was nothing to be afraid of. So one night a force, under the direction of General E. , started upon an expedition to reconnoitre for severalmiles to the north-east of Fortress Monroe. Reconnoitreis a French word, meaning to look about, or was done in order to find out how large a body ofConfederates was near. By a sad misfortune, the two partsof this force, starting from different points, met in the darknear a place north-east of Hampton, called Litde BethelEach supposing the other an enemy, they both opened fire. i86i,] The Nation s Answer. 75 Many were killed and wounded before the mistake was dis-covered. Then they joined in the attempt to attack theConfederates at Little Bethel. Finding their camp deserted,however, General Pierce hastened to Big Bethel, farther he came unexpectedly upon more than one thousandConfederates, who had retreated at the sound of firing, andnow lay behind a fine barricade, or breastwork, all readylo receive General Pierce and his men. A sharp skirmishfollowed, lasting several hours. The nationals were badlybeaten. When General Pierce retreated, he left one hun-dred men on the battle-field. Here fell young Major Win-throp, so gifted and full of promise. But he met deathbravely, leading and encouraging his men to the cannonsmouth. Pailing to hear the order to retreat, he stood almostalone when a rebel bullet pierced his heart. Not less sad was the loss of Lieutenant John T. Greble ofthe regular army ; nor was his death les
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